2017 Giro d'Italia Stage 1 Results & Recap
Stage 1 of the 2017 Giro d'Italia is in the books. The final results and standings are below, followed by our recap of how the race unfolded.
Race Recap
Lukas Pöstlberger takes surprise win in Olbia
By Clara Beard
Lukas Pöstlberger (Bora – Hansgrohe) took a dream win on the first stage of the 100th edition of the Giro d’Italia. The 25-year-old Austrian took to the front of the pack to set up his teammate Sam Bennett, but the chaotic course helped Pöstlberger ride away from everyone, including pre-stage favorites Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott), who took second ahead of André Greipel (Lotto Soudal).
Today's 206km route took the riders along the northern coast of coast of Sardina. There were three categorized climbs (all Cat 4), in Multeddu, Trinità d’Agultu and San Pantaleo. The last is was than 20 km from the finish and is approximately 5 km at an 8 percent grade. However, it's still predicted to be a sprint finish, with André Greipel (Lotto Soudal) the favorite. Fittingly, the German is wearing the André Greipel (Lotto Soudal) bib number!
Before the peloton started rolling, the Astana team came to the front of the start line and led a moment of silence for their teammate Michele Scarponi. The 37-year-old Italian died April 22 after being hit by a van while riding close to his home in Filottrano.
When the flag dropped to mark the official race, several attacks were made, but nothing stuck until 10 km in, when Mirco Maestri (Bardiani-CSF), Cesare Benedetti (Bora – Hansgrohe), Marcin Bialoblocki (CCC Sprandi Polkowice), Pavel Brutt (Gazprom-Rusvelo), Daniel Teklehaimanot (Dimension Data) and Eugert Zhupa (Wilier-Selle Italia) escaped off the front.
With the peloton content to let the break gain a maximum of 7 minutes, there wasn’t much action until the first Cat. 4 climb 68 km into the stage. Benedetti deservedly won max points at the top of the first KOM after attacking twice before the summit. Benedetti made the same move again on the second KOM 20 kilometers later, when he came around Teklehaimanot right at the last moment to take the max points away from the Eritrean rider. The effort secured Benedetti the maglia azzurra at the end of the stage.
The second climb cracked Maestri, who lost contact with the leaders midway though the stage.
With 94km to go, the gap went under three minutes for the first time, however the mood in the peloton was still fairly relaxed. In fact, the pace was so slow, the race was more than an hour behind the predicted schedule.
Zhupa claimed the first intermediate sprint points in Santa Theresa di Gallura, but lost out to Teklehaimanot after the second opportunity in Cannigione with 30 km to go.
On the final Cat 4 climb, Benedetti made sure he had a place on the podium for himself and the Bora – Hansgrohe name and scooped up max points. Meanwhile, the peloton kept the break on a minute and a half minute leash until they finally reeled the tired riders back in with around 15 km remaining.
From there, it looked to be a textbook lead out for the sprinters until the final 5 km, when tight corners and narrow roads caused some hesitancy in the main competitors, allowing Pöstlberger a rare opportunity to shine.
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